Handle structure for starting devices



Jan. 2, 1951 D. A. ARMSTRONG 2,536,118

HANDLE STRUCTURE FOR STARTING DEVICES Filed Feb. 5, 1947 Fig.4.

Inventor: DANiELA-ARMSTRON Patented Jan. 2, 1951 2,536,118 HANDLESTRUCTURE 50R STARTING DEVI E Daniel A. An'instrong, Minneapolis, Minn,assignor to Scott-At-water Manufacturing Company, Minneapolis, Minn, acorporation of Minnesota Application February 5, 1947, Serial No.726,638

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a handle structure and particularly to ahandle structure used with a flexible member which is to be pulled upon.One important application of the invention is that for the handle on thestarter of an outboard motor. Such starting devices now commonlycomprise a flexible member or cap to one end of which a handle issecured for pulling upon the cable.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple and efficienthandle structure and one which is closed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a handle structureadapted to be used with a flexible member comprising a member adapted tobe grasped in the hand, and preferably of knob-like structure, saidmember having a chamber therein open at one side of said member andhaving a passage extending from said chamber to the opposite side ofsaid member, a flexible member extending through said passage and havingan enlarged means, such as a knot, at its end disposed in said chamber,together with means for closing the open side of said chamber andconcealing said enlarged means.

It is more specifically an object of the invention to provide a handlestructure comprising a member of yielding or resilient material andformed so as to be grasped in the hand, said member having a chambertherein open at one side of said member and having a passage of muchless transverse dimension than said chamber extending from said chamberto the opposite side of said member, a disc disposed in said chamber atth side thereof adjacent said passage and having an aperturetherethrough alined with said passage, a flexible member extendingthrough said passage and aperture and having an enlarged means, such asa knot, at its end disposed in said chamber and abutting said disc, saidfirst mentioned member having an annular groove extending about saidchamber adjacent said open side, and a cap having an outwardly extendingannular flange adapted to be sprung into said groove for closing saidopen side.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fullyset forth in the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views and in which- Fig. 1 is aplan view showing a portion of an outboard motor;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section;

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of one member used; and

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of a cap used.

Referring to the drawings, a portion II] of an outboard motor housing orcasing is shown in which the mechanism of a starter device is contained.Said casing has a boss Illa formed thereon which is apertured to providea passage for a flexible member, such as a cable I I. A handle member I2is provided adapted to be grasped in the hand and while this might takevarious forms, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated it isshown as in the form of a knob having a rear reduced cylindrical portionI2a which has a short tapering portion I 2b adapted to seat in a recessin lug Illa. While member I2 could be mad of various material, itpreferably is made of some yielding or resilient material, such asrubber or a rubber composition. Member i2 is provided with a chamber I20shown as of general cylin drical form, and said chamber is open at oneside of member l2, which is the outer or front side. A passage I2dextends from chamber I2c to the opposite side of member I2, whichpassage is of much less transverse dimension than chamber I2c so that ashoulder I2e is formed at the rear side of said chamber. The flexiblemember II, which is usually in the form of a rope or cable, extendsthrough passage I2d and has a terminal portion Ila having an enlargedmeans thereon which can conveniently be a knot. The enlarged portion orknot Ila is adapted to abut against a disc I3 disposed at the rear sideof chamber I20 and having a flange extending thereabout so that the sameis of cup-shaped form. Disc I3 has a central aperture through whichmember II extends, said aperture being alined with passage I 2d and theenlarged means or knot Ila abuts against member I3. Withdrawal of memberII through passage l2d is thus prevented. Member I2 is provided adjacentthe open side of chamber I20 with an annular groove I2 which extendsabout said chamber. A closed rounded cap I 4 has an outwardly extendingflange Ma and flange Ma is adapted to be sprung into groove I2) tosecure cap I4 to member I2.

In the use of the device, cable I I will be attached to the propermember of the starting device and will be passed through lug Ilia. Saidcable can then be passed through passage I2d in member I 2, member I3having previously been placed in position in member I2. The enlargedmeans or knot IIa can now be formed or placed on member II and the samedisposed in chamber I2c against disc I3. The member II is usuallyresiliently pulled into the housing I0 so that the knot Ila will bepulled against disc I3 and the handle member I2 will be held in positionagainst lug Illa. The cap M can now be placed in position by springingflange Ma into the groove 12 Member 12 will yield sufficiently for thisplacement. Cap I4 is now securely held in position and the open side ofchamber 120 is closed and the terminal end and enlargement on cable I!is covered or concealed. In starting the motor, handle HZis pulled upon,which pulls upon cable ii and handle 12 is then released. The enlargedmeans or knot Ha of course prevents cable Ii from being pulled outthrough passage i203.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a simpleand efficient structure of handle. The cable H is efiiciently disposedand can be pulled upon as desired. The cap [4 closes the opening at oneside of handle 12 so that dirt or water is excluded. The end of cable I!with the enlargement thereon is also protected from dirt, water, oil orgrease. A very compact and efficient structure is thus produced. Themember 12 is preferably made of rubber or rubber-like material so thatit is Waterproof and does not readily absorb any grease or dirt. devicehas been amply demonstrated in actual practice, found to be verysuccessful and efiicient and is being commercially made.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in theform, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, withoutdeparting from the scope of applicants invention, which generallystated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects aboveset forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and definedin the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A handle structure for the pull cord of an outboard motor having incombination, a member made of rubber and comprising a substantiallyknoblike front end with a substantially cylindrical shank at its rearend, said member having a passage extending axially therethrough, saidpassage having a greatly enlarged cylindrical portion at its front endopening at said front end and forming a shoulder at its inner end, saidmember having an annular groove in the wall of said enlarged portion ofsaid passage adjacent its front end, a cord extending through saidpassage and having a knot disposed in said enlarged portion and adaptedto engage said shoulder and a substantially cylindrical metal cap havinga projecting annular terminal flange adapted to be disposed in saidgroove by de- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 164,812 Crane June 22, 1875843,720 Waddell et al. Feb. 12, 1907 1,031,400 Tirrill July 2, 19121,666,201 Goldstein Apr. 17, 1928 1,936,775 Stedman Nov. 28, 19332,164,206 Gits et al June 27, 1939

